Neural Plasticity and Cognitive Development
Before responding to this discussion, watch the following video, and then read the article on Neural Plasticity and Cognitive Development.
The Science of Brain Plasticity – Dr. Merzenich
Stiles, J. (2000). Neural Plasticity and Cognitive Development. Developmental Neuropsychology, 18(2), 237-272.
Some researchers argue that brain plasticity is more than just reorganization in response to injury, but rather that it also is a fundamental process in normal brain development and cognitive functioning (Stiles, 2000). Stiles used plasticity to refer to the complex interaction of neural development and input from the environment to create functional patterns in the brain. Plasticity is seen as the mechanism for active (rather than passive) neural development. In this post, you will discuss the broader implications often associated with the term plasticity.
